'78 Nose emblem remove/install
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
'78 Nose emblem remove/install
Good morning all! Temp in high 30s, but supposed to warm to 53 this afternoon. Sure hate to see the driving/show/cruise-in season come to an end.
My question - I want to replace the nose emblem on our '78 pace car. I have a new NOS GM emblem that I bought off ebay. Your expertise as to how to best remove the old emblem will be most appreciated.
Thanks
GaryC - Franklin, IN
My question - I want to replace the nose emblem on our '78 pace car. I have a new NOS GM emblem that I bought off ebay. Your expertise as to how to best remove the old emblem will be most appreciated.
Thanks
GaryC - Franklin, IN
Platinum Supporting Dealership
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 13
From: St. Marys Ohio
Should be pretty easy with the hood open. Reach in with a quarter inch ratchet w/deep socket and it should be easy to get off. I believe it is held on with speed nuts. Don't over tighten the new one, You can crack the paint or break off the studs. 
__________________
Tom Hendricks tom@budschevy.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buds-Chevrolet-Buick-Corvette/176730955684255?ref=hl
Corvette Specialist Since 1993
BUDS CHEVROLET
St. Marys, Ohio
800-688-2837
WEBSITE WWW.BUDSCHEVY.COM
HOURS MON-WED 7:00AM - 5:00PM
FFRIDAY AND SATURDAY BY APPT.
OFF THURSDAYS
NCRS # 23758 Miami Valley Chapter ( Ohio )
NCM Founding Member #1143
NADA Classic Car Guide Advisiory Board Member
C5/C6 Registry Corporate Member # 5
My Corvettes. 63, 71, 73, 78.
Tom Hendricks tom@budschevy.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buds-Chevrolet-Buick-Corvette/176730955684255?ref=hl
Corvette Specialist Since 1993
BUDS CHEVROLET
St. Marys, Ohio
800-688-2837
WEBSITE WWW.BUDSCHEVY.COM
HOURS MON-WED 7:00AM - 5:00PM
FFRIDAY AND SATURDAY BY APPT.
OFF THURSDAYS
NCRS # 23758 Miami Valley Chapter ( Ohio )
NCM Founding Member #1143
NADA Classic Car Guide Advisiory Board Member
C5/C6 Registry Corporate Member # 5
My Corvettes. 63, 71, 73, 78.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
'78 Pace car nose emblem remove/install
The gas filler door emblem was fastened on with speed nuts, but front emblem just has solid points that go through holes in nose and is held on with an adhesive patch. I don't want to start prying on things. The replacement emblem is set up the same way. Pull the paper off the adhesive, points into holes and press it onto the nose.
The assembly manual indicates that adhesive was used from new. They actually clamped emblem in place during assembly to get the desired bond.
Restorer friend said to warm emblem with a heat gun to separate it from the adhesive. I haven't fired up my torch yet.
Thanks for all responses.
GaryC - '78 Pace car - Franklin, IN
The assembly manual indicates that adhesive was used from new. They actually clamped emblem in place during assembly to get the desired bond.
Restorer friend said to warm emblem with a heat gun to separate it from the adhesive. I haven't fired up my torch yet.
Thanks for all responses.
GaryC - '78 Pace car - Franklin, IN
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Searcy Arkansas
I would warm it up with a hair-drier... Not a heat gun... If the sun was out, on a warm day that would probably be enough... Then I would use a piece of dental floss and run it between the emblem & the car... I have removed tons of emblems on motorcycle tanks which are held on the same way... All that is left is a little glue that can be easily cleaned off... Good Luck...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
If the adhesive has essentially hardened a bit of dental floss might not be up to the task, if you are very careful you can use a guitar string. Go to a local music/guitar store and see if you can purchase individual strings.
Wound strings work if you are very very careful, you can apply a slight sawing motion. I would recommend a single string without the winding myself.
Wound strings work if you are very very careful, you can apply a slight sawing motion. I would recommend a single string without the winding myself.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
'78 Pace Car nose emblem R/I
Thanks to all for your suggestions. Seem to hear heat and dental floss/string/fish line as key contributors to the removal.
Heat via sunlight is going to be rather short in supply for the next few days in the mid-west. Highs are to be in the 40s. Rock 'n Roll show in Greenwood this Saturday is going to be on the very cool side.
Some have questioned why I would consider replacing what may be the original emblem on a pace car. It's like this folks. Our pace car looks sharp, but it has over 165k miles on it. It's not NCRS, but it's "OUR 78".
Take care
GaryC - Franklin, IN
Heat via sunlight is going to be rather short in supply for the next few days in the mid-west. Highs are to be in the 40s. Rock 'n Roll show in Greenwood this Saturday is going to be on the very cool side.
Some have questioned why I would consider replacing what may be the original emblem on a pace car. It's like this folks. Our pace car looks sharp, but it has over 165k miles on it. It's not NCRS, but it's "OUR 78".
Take care
GaryC - Franklin, IN
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You got that right. Enjoy it the way you want it I always say. I wasn't aware of the adhesive either. I just changed them on the 71 and they were just as ratmotortom said (1/4 in ratchet and speednuts accessible after opening the hood). Hang the old one from the mirror or make a necklace out of it. Good luck with the replacement.
Good luck with the replacement.
Last edited by HOOAH; Oct 13, 2009 at 09:35 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
'78 Pace Car nose emblem R/I
HOOAH - might not hang it from the mirror, but did buy an emblem that had been made into a belt buckle.
New NOS emblem on the gas lid looks great. The new one for the front should do likewise.
Restorer friend wanted me to consider cleaning/painting the original one. I like the looks of the new one. He has done some great work and I respect his opinion. However, he's working with Bloomington Gold cars. I want "OUR 78" to look sharp for the local car show circuit. It does that as it is now. I just keep tweakin' on it a little to get to the next level.
Take care
Gary C - High Mile Mid America Club - Franklin, IN
New NOS emblem on the gas lid looks great. The new one for the front should do likewise.
Restorer friend wanted me to consider cleaning/painting the original one. I like the looks of the new one. He has done some great work and I respect his opinion. However, he's working with Bloomington Gold cars. I want "OUR 78" to look sharp for the local car show circuit. It does that as it is now. I just keep tweakin' on it a little to get to the next level.
Take care
Gary C - High Mile Mid America Club - Franklin, IN
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
'78 Pace Car Nose emblem R/I
Good idea as to putting the original emblems together in a frame. See some folks resell them on ebay for little return. The framed emblems could be added to our show display. Display currently includes the following items:
Large binder with lots of pics and pace car info, window sticker copy
'78 Indy 500 program - had a ticket stub, but lost it
Corvette mags covering Pace car and race - 4 mags
'78 Pace car press kit - put out by GM
'78 Indy 500 Track Report - issued by A J Foyt race team after race
Take care folks
Gary C - Pace car #3359 - 165,253 miles - Franklin, IN
Large binder with lots of pics and pace car info, window sticker copy
'78 Indy 500 program - had a ticket stub, but lost it
Corvette mags covering Pace car and race - 4 mags
'78 Pace car press kit - put out by GM
'78 Indy 500 Track Report - issued by A J Foyt race team after race
Take care folks
Gary C - Pace car #3359 - 165,253 miles - Franklin, IN
